Soft Solids

"Soft Solids" lighting series explore the intentional use and repurposing of natural materials, reflecting on the potential for regeneration within design practice. The incorporation of wax in crafting light objects introduces distinctive characteristics – its capacity to transform from a shapeless mass into a tangible form and revert to a flexible or even fluid state.

A blend of natural materials, including stearin (one of the most common naturally occurring saturated fatty acids) and soy wax (made from soybean oil), encodes actions of responsible consumption.
Wax is used not only to shape the light shades, but also for the modular installation Stem, making it convenient for adaptation in various spaces by changing its form or scale. Despite illumination, the light installation embodies symbolic meaning representing the processes of growth and regeneration occurring in nature.

Natural wax adopts biomorphic forms and the emitted blue, green, and off-white light allude to natural entities or phenomena. The nature of wax accentuates the potential use of the organic substance within the design process, combining various manufacturing methods such as: handcraft, digital 3D modelling, and creative recycling (upcycling).

Upcycling within the "Soft Solids" exhibition involves the creative integration of components and elements sourced from the collected used parts of the luminaires, primarily designed in the 20th century, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s, originating from diverse countries such as Sweden, Italy, and the former Czechoslovakia.

The fusion of new elements, crafted from natural wax, with existing ones, including metal and glass components, weaves a narrative of nostalgia, grounded in the present, yet projecting towards the future. This approach pays tribute to creative individuality, revitalising vintage objects with fresh energy and encouraging viewers to recognise their original designs while appreciating their transformed states.

The „Soft Solids“ explore a balance of resistance and fragility, functionality, and sustainable adaptability within the object. They raise questions about the potential implications of adopting a "soft solid" strategy in contemporary design and consumer behaviour.

Soft Solids lighting series are created in collaboration with architect Ieva Baranauskaite. Photos at Gallery Vartai by Norbert Tukaj.

With the support of:

Soft Solids

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